Margret Atwood’s The Penelopaid is a response to the issues unaddressed within The Odyssey. Complications regarding class and gender divisions is explored through techniques such as irony. Odysseus’ glorification within The Odyssey is challenged as Atwood provides dialogue to female characters such as the maids. The traditional use of comedia and tragedy is utilized to overshadow the seriousness of the court case. The effectiveness of Deus ex Machina is challenged due to Atwood’s utilization of the technique. Ultimately, through the use of various techniques Atwood effectively creates postmodern perceptions of The Odyssey.
Atwood’s response to The Odyssey explores the societal expectations of sexuality created by class and gender divisions.
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To illustrate, in prose the maids sing, “we had no voice,” where the use of past tense “had” implies that Atwood attempts to provide words to how they viewed their execution and the vengeance they seek. The repetition of the line attributes to the significance of the result of their story being told. This is evident from the new interpretations of Odysseus that arises from the irony of his behavior. As Penelope explains through dialogue within the court case the mentality in which Odysseus executes the suitors are for committing adultery and squatting in his house. This contradicts his actions as he commits adultery with Circe and he invades the Cyclopes’ home under the expectation they would be hospitable. The contradictory nature of this persists through his expectation that Penelope remains faithful to him throughout The Odyssey. Hence, the repetition of the lines creates a shift in power as Odysseus was the one in a position of power in The Odyssey, however the irony of his actions belittles his reputation and the Homeric stereotype of a hero. Thusly, the use of reputation and irony are devices that Atwood uses in order to highlight complications within Odysseus’